1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an image display apparatus.
2. Related Background Art
Hitherto, two kinds of sources such as thermionic electron source and cold cathode electron source have been known as electron-emitting devices. As cold cathode electron sources, there are a field emission device (hereinbelow, abbreviated to an “FE type device”), a metal/insulating layer/metal type device (hereinbelow, abbreviated to an “MIM device”), a surface conduction electron-emitting device (hereinbelow, abbreviated to an “SCE device”), and the like.
An image display apparatus in which a number of electron-emitting devices mentioned above are arranged on a substrate and used as an electron source has also been proposed.
Generally, such a kind of image display apparatus has a structure in which a rear plate on which a plurality of electron-emitting devices are arranged in a matrix and a face plate on which phosphor is provided so as to face each of the plurality of electron-emitting devices are arranged so as to face each other. According to such an image display apparatus, by applying a high voltage between the rear plate and the face plate, electrons emitted from the electron-emitting devices collide with phosphor and phosphor emits light. In this instance, by controlling the electron emission from each electron-emitting device, the light emission in each phosphor is controlled, so that an image is displayed.
With respect to a technique regarding the SCE device mentioned above, a part of the prior arts by the same applicant as the present invention will be introduced hereinbelow for reference.
For instance, as examples of the electron source in which the SCE devices are arranged in a matrix and an image display apparatus using such an electron source, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H08-185818, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H09-050757, and the like can be mentioned.
According to the conventional image display apparatus using the electron-emitting devices, there is a case where a discharge occurs in the apparatus. When such a discharge occurs, there is a case where The electron-emitting device is damaged. When such a damage occurs in a number of electron-emitting devices, consequently, there is also a fear that a life of the image display apparatus itself is consequently shortened.
It is an object of the invention to suppress a damage which is caused when a discharge occurs.
An image display apparatus of the invention comprises: a first substrate having a plurality of electron-emitting regions and an electroconductive member on its surface; and a second substrate having anodes which are arranged so as to face the plurality of electron-emitting regions and the electroconductive member and to which electrons emitted from the electron-emitting regions are irradiated, wherein the image display apparatus has an insulating member which covers the electroconductive member excluding the electron-emitting regions.
It is preferable that the insulating member covers at least the whole surface of the electroconductive member arranged in an orthogonal projection region of the anode to the surface of the first substrate.
The electroconductive member can include wirings which connect the plurality of electron-emitting regions and a driving circuit.
The electron-emitting region may be an electroconductive film and a gap formed in a part of the electroconductive film.
The electron-emitting region may be a gap formed in a part of the electroconductive film.
The image display apparatus of the invention can further have a resistor film which covers an exposed surface and the insulating member of the first substrate.
According to the invention, since the progress of the discharge can be suppressed, the damage of the electron-emitting device due to the discharge can be minimized and the life of the image forming apparatus can be extended.
According to the invention, the charging the exposed surface of the substrate where the electron-emitting regions and the electroconductive member are arranged and the charging the insulating member can be suppressed, so that electron-emitting characteristics can be further stabilized and the discharge can be further suppressed.
Subsequently, the best mode to embody the image forming apparatus and its manufacturing method according to the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a rear plate (first substrate) also serving as a substrate to form an electron source. A proper one of the following various kinds of materials is used for the rear plate 1 in accordance with conditions: soda lime glass; soda lime glass whose surface is formed with an SiO2 coating film; glass in which a content of Na is small; quartz glass; ceramics; and the like. It is also possible to construct in such a manner that the substrate to form the electron source is formed separately from the rear plate and, after the electron source is formed, both of them are joined.
Reference numeral 11 denotes a face plate (second substrate) also serving as a substrate to form phosphor. A proper one of the following various kinds of materials is used for the face plate 11 in accordance with conditions: that is, soda lime glass; soda lime glass whose surface is formed with an SiO2 coating film; glass in which a content of Na is small; quartz glass; ceramics; and the like.
Reference numeral 2 denotes an electron source in which a plurality of electron-emitting devices such as FE type devices, SCE devices, or the like are arranged and, further, wirings connected to the devices are formed so that the devices can be driven in accordance with a purpose. Reference numerals 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3 denote wirings for driving the electron source. Those wirings are led out of the image forming apparatus and connected to a driving circuit (not shown) of the electron source 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes a supporting frame sandwiched between the rear plate 1 and the face plate 11. The supporting frame 4 is joined to the rear plate 1 by frit glass. The electron source driving wirings 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3 are embedded in the frit glass in the joint portion of the supporting frame 4 and the rear plate 1 and led out to the outside. Insulating layers (not shown) are formed among the electron source driving wirings 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3. In addition to them, a getter (not shown) is arranged in a vacuum vessel together with a supporting member (not shown). There is also a case where a spacer (not shown) for supporting the atmospheric pressure is arranged in accordance with circumstances.
Reference numeral 7 denotes a high-voltage contact portion with a high-voltage introducing terminal 18. An image display region 12 will be described in detail hereinafter.
A kind of electron-emitting devices constructing the electron source region 2 used in the embodiment is not particularly limited but an arbitrary kind of electron-emitting devices can be used so long as their electron-emitting characteristics or a nature such as a size of device or the like is suitable for the target image forming apparatus. Thermionic electron-emitting devices, cold cathode devices such as FE type devices, semiconductor electron-emitting devices, MIM devices, SCE devices, etc., or the like can be used. In the invention, the electron-emitting region is substantially the region where electrons are emitted. In the thermionic electron-emitting device, for example, a filament portion corresponds to the electron-emitting region. In the semiconductor electron-emitting region, for example, a pn junction or a shot-key electrode corresponds to the electron-emitting region. In the MIM device, for example, an upper electrode surface corresponds to the electron-emitting region. In the SCE device, for example, an electroconductive film including a gap or the gap portion or the like corresponds to the electron-emitting region.
The SCE devices shown in the embodiment, which will be explained hereinafter, are preferably used for the embodiment. The SCE devices are the devices similar to those disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H07-235255 filed by the same applicant as the present invention mentioned above and will be briefly explained hereinbelow.
The electroconductive members shown in
The foregoing forming steps are executed by applying a voltage across the device electrodes 102 and 103. A pulse voltage is preferable as a voltage to be applied. Either a method whereby the pulse voltage of the same peak value is applied as shown in
After the electron-emitting region is formed by the forming process, a process called an “activating step” is executed. According to this process, by repetitively applying the pulse voltage to the device in the atmosphere where an organic substance exists, a substance containing carbon or a carbon compound as a main component is deposited on the electron-emitting region and/or its periphery. By this process, both of a current flowing across the device electrodes (device current If) and a current accompanied by the electron emission (emission current Ie) can be increased.
It is preferable that the electron-emitting device obtained through the forming step and the activating step as mentioned above is subsequently subjected to a stabilizing step. The stabilizing step is a step of evacuating the organic substance existing in the vacuum vessel, particularly, near the electron-emitting region. As a vacuum evacuating apparatus for evacuating the vacuum vessel, it is preferable to use an apparatus using no oil so that the oil which is generated from the apparatus does not exert an influence on characteristics of the device. Specifically speaking, a vacuum evacuating apparatus constructed by a sorption pump and an ion pump or the like can be mentioned.
It is desirable that a partial pressure of the organic substance existing in the vacuum vessel is set to be equal to or less than 1.3×10−6 [Pa] as a partial pressure at which the carbon or carbon compound is not newly deposited, particularly, more preferably, 1.3×10−8 [Pa] or less. Further, when the inside of the vacuum vessel is evacuated, it is preferable to heat the whole vacuum vessel so that molecules of the organic substance adsorbed to the inner wall of the vacuum vessel or to the electron-emitting devices can be easily evacuated. At this time, as heating conditions, it is desirable to set a temperature to 80 to 250 [° C.], preferably, 150 [° C.] or higher and the process is executed for a time as long as possible. However, the heating conditions are not limited to them but can be properly selected in accordance with various conditions such as size and shape of the vacuum vessel, a structure of the electron-emitting devices, and the like. It is necessary to set a pressure in the vacuum vessel to be as low as possible. Preferably, it is set to 1×10−5 [Pa] or less, particularly, more preferably, 1.3×10−6 [Pa] or less.
As an atmosphere upon driving after completion of the stabilizing step, it is desirable to maintain the atmosphere at the end of the stabilizing step. However, it is not limited to such an atmosphere. Even if a vacuum degree itself slightly decreases, the sufficiently stable characteristics can be maintained so long as the organic substance has sufficiently been removed. By using such a vacuum atmosphere, the new deposition of carbon or carbon compound can be suppressed and H2O, O2, and the like adsorbed to the vacuum vessel, substrate, and the like can be also removed. Consequently, the device current If and the emission current Ie are stabilized.
Characteristics of the device current If and the emission current Ie of the surface conduction electron-emitting device obtained as mentioned above in relation to a device voltage Vf which is applied to the surface conduction electron-emitting device are schematically shown in
As shown in
Examples of constructions of phosphor films as image forming members will now be described.
As a method of coating the face plate in the image forming apparatus with phosphor 63, a precipitating method, a printing method, or the like can be used irrespective of the monochromatic display or the color display. A metal back (not shown) is provided for the inner surface side of the phosphor film 61. An object for providing the metal back is that the light directing toward the inner surface side in the light emitted from phosphor 63 is mirror surface reflected to the face plate side, thereby improving luminance, the metal back is allowed to operate as an electrode for applying an electron beam accelerating voltage, phosphor 63 is protected against a damage due to collision of negative ions generated in an envelope, and the like. The metal back can be formed by a method whereby, after the phosphor film is formed, a smoothing process (generally, called “filming”) is executed to the surface on the inner surface side of the phosphor film and, thereafter, Al is deposited by using vacuum evaporation deposition or the like.
A transparent electrode can be also provided for the face plate 11 on the outer surface side of the phosphor film 61 in order to further raise the conductivity of the phosphor film 61. In the case of the color display, since it is necessary to make each color phosphor correspond to each electron-emitting device, it is indispensable to precisely position them.
According to the embodiment having the structure as mentioned above, by covering the electroconductive member with the insulating member, the progress of the discharge is suppressed, the creeping discharge can be prevented, and the damage can be suppressed only in the electron-emitting device in which the discharge has occurred. Therefore, the damage of the electron-emitting device due to the discharge can be minimized, so that the life of the thin flat type electron beam image forming apparatus can be prolonged and its reliability can be improved. The image forming apparatus manufactured as mentioned above is used, scanning signals and image signals are supplied to the electron-emitting devices formed on the matrix wiring coordinates, and the high voltage is applied to the metal back of the image forming member, so that the image display apparatus having such a feature that it is large and thin can be provided.
According to the embodiment, since the image display apparatus is constructed by the SCE device with the electroconductive film in which the electron-emitting region has a gap in a part thereof, the structure is simple, the manufacturing-method is easy, a high electron-emitting efficiency is obtained, and a number of devices can be arranged and formed in a large area.
In the embodiment, as shown in
A manufacturing method of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment will be further described hereinbelow with reference to the drawings. A plurality of SCE devices are formed on the rear plate also serving as a substrate and wired in a matrix, thereby forming an electron source. The image forming apparatus is formed by using the electron source.
(Step a)
First, as shown in
(Step b)
Subsequently, as shown in
(Step c)
Subsequently, as shown in
(Step d)
Subsequently, as shown in
(Step e)
Subsequently, as shown in
(Step f)
Subsequently, as shown in
A setting example of a distance from the center of the electron-emitting device to the edge of the insulating layer (range of the first region) will now be described.
When the discharge occurs, it is necessary to stop the discharge until the scanning voltage is shifted from the discharge-occurring electron-emitting device to the adjacent electron-emitting device, that is, within a 1H time. Since the discharge progresses from the center of the electron-emitting device to the edge of the insulating layer, in order to stop the discharge within the 1H time, it is necessary that a time τ necessary until the discharge is finished satisfies the following expressions.
1H>L/Varc
(L/Varc=τ)
L<α(1H*Varc)
where,
It is known that Varc is equal to a value within a range from 10 to 100 m/sec from Raymond L., Boxman, Philip J., Martin, and David M., “Handbook of vacuum arc science and technology”, Sanders Noyes Publications, 1995, or the like, although it depends on a construction of the members. It has been also confirmed from various experiments that Varc lies within such a range. It is now preferable to set Varc to (Varc=10 m/sec) in consideration of the worst case corresponding to a low speed. “α” is a parameter showing a discharge relaxation time which is necessary until the creeping discharge does not occur after the discharge arc reached the insulating layer edge. “α” is equal to about 1 to 0.1 and depends on the insulating layer material.
Now, assuming that 1H is equal to 20 μsec, the distance L is obtained as follows by the above relational expressions.
L<(1 to 0.1)×(10 m/sec×20 μsec)=200 to 20 μm
Therefore, it is necessary that the distance L from the center of the electron-emitting device to the edge of the insulating layer is smaller than a value within a range from 200 to 20 μm. It is set to a value smaller than 200 μm, preferably, smaller than 20 μm.
(Step g)
The surface on the rear plate 1 shown in
(Step h)
The supporting frame 4 (
(Step i)
Subsequently, the face plate 11 (
(Step j)
The supporting frame 4 (
(Step k)
The image forming apparatus is connected to a vacuum evacuating apparatus through the exhaust pipe (not shown) and the inside of the vessel is evacuated. When a pressure in the vessel reaches 10−4 [Pa] or less, the forming process is executed. The forming step is executed by applying a pulse voltage whose peak value gradually increases as shown in the schematic diagram of
(Step l)
Subsequently, the activating process is executed. Prior to executing this process, the vacuum vessel is evacuated by the ion pump while keeping the image forming apparatus at 20 [° C.] and the pressure is reduced to 10−5 [Pa] or less. Subsequently, acetone is introduced into the vacuum vessel. An introduction quantity of acetone is adjusted so that the pressure is equal to 1.3×10−2 [Pa]. Subsequently, the pulse voltage is applied to the X-directional wirings. As a pulse waveform, a rectangular wave pulse whose peak value is equal to 16 [V] is used and a pulse width is set to 100 [μsec]. Such operations that the X-directional wirings to which the pulse is applied at an interval of 125 [μsec] are switched to those of the adjacent row every pulse and the pulse is sequentially applied to each wiring in the row direction are repeated. Thus, the pulse is applied to each row at an interval of 10 [msec]. As a result of the above processes, the deposited film made of carbon as a main component is formed near the electron-emitting region of each electron-emitting device. The device current If and the emission current Ie increase.
(Step m)
Subsequently, the inside of the vacuum vessel is again evacuated as an activating step. The evacuation is continued for ten hours by using the ion pump while keeping the image forming apparatus at 200 [° C.]. This step is provided to remove the organic substance molecules remaining in the vacuum vessel, to prevent the deposited film made of carbon as a main component from being deposited furthermore, and to stabilize the electron-emitting characteristics.
(Step n)
The pulse voltage is applied to the X-directional wirings by a method similar to that used in step l. Further, by applying a voltage of 5 [kV] to the image forming member through the high-voltage introducing terminal mentioned above, the phosphor film emits the light. It is confirmed by the eyes that there are no light-emitting portions or no very dark portions. The supply of the voltages to the X-directional wirings and to the image forming member is stopped and the exhaust pipe is thermally melt-bonded and sealed. Subsequently, the getter process is executed by high-frequency heating, thereby completing the image forming apparatus,
As a result of executing various experiments to the image forming apparatus using the electron source substrate formed in the above steps, it has been confirmed that the damage upon discharging was minimized and the continuous damage due to the creeping discharge was suppressed.
This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-311033 filed Oct. 26, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
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